Fansided

5 reasons the Golden State Warriors can win the 2017 NBA Championship

By Scott Rafferty

January 16, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrate during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 126-91. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 16, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrate during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 126-91. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next

The Warriors may be the prohibitive favorites to win the NBA Championship, but nothing is assured. Here are five reasons they can live up to the hype and win it all.

For the third straight season, the Warriors enter the playoffs with the best record in the NBA. They used that momentum in 2015 to win their first title in 40 years, only to suffer the biggest collapse we’ve ever seen in the NBA Finals by blowing a 3-1 lead to LeBron James and the Cavaliers the season after. While the Warriors could easily be in a position right now to become only the fourth NBA franchise to 3-peat, they’re instead looking to avenge their loss of last season with the same core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

Helping them this time around is Kevin Durant, a one-time MVP who has lead the NBA in scoring four times in 11 seasons. He joined the Warriors in the offseason following his own historic loss, blowing a 3-1 lead to the Warriors as a member of the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. The Warriors sacrificed some depth to acquire him, but he has fit in perfectly with their system and his scoring versatility helps solve some of their weaknesses on offense.

Even though this Warriors team is different to years’ past, they’re in position to become the third team since 2000 to make three consecutive appearances in the NBA Finals. If they get there, there are five reasons in particular why they can win it all. From Durant’s level of play this season to their motivation in taking care of some unfinished business, let’s look at each of them in depth.

5. Kevin Durant was playing like an MVP before his injury

Russell Westbrook and James Harden dominated the MVP conversation during the regular season, but Durant quietly had one of the best seasons of his career. While his 25.2 points per game was the lowest mark since he won Rookie of the Year nearly 10 years ago, he got those numbers shooting 53.5 percent from the field, 37.3 percent from the perimeter and 87.8 percent from the free throw line. According to Basketball Reference, the only player in NBA history to average 25 points per game with those levels of efficiency is Chris Mullin in 1989-90.

Furthermore, only six players have ever averaged 25 points per game on less than 17 shot attempts per game: David Robinson, Charles Barkley, Kevin McHale, Amar’e Stoudemire, James Harden and Mullin. Durant became the seventh player by the season’s end.

Durant also averaged 8.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while playing the sort of defense that almost helped the Thunder upset the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Put it all together and the Warriors outscored teams by 15.5 points per possession when Durant was on the court, which helped them win 50 games and lose only 10 games prior to his injury. Assuming Durant will return to MVP-like form for the playoffs, he’s just the sort of weapon they need to go toe-to-toe with James in the NBA Finals.